Angry neighbours of a pub where the former bowling green could be turned into housing have called on city councillors to turn down the plans.

Eastern Daily Press: The Heath House pub in Gertrude Road. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYThe Heath House pub in Gertrude Road. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

Members of Norwich City Council's planning committee will today decide whether to grant permission for four houses on the green at the back of the Heath House Pub in Gertrude Road.

A previous application was rejected in December last year, because of concerns over the design and the loss of open space.

But the applicant has come back with a revised scheme.

It includes a contribution of £15,000 to the council to improve open space, to compensate for the green's loss.

The council says the pitch and putt course at Mousehold Heath has provisionally been identified to benefit from that money.

And officers are recommending that members of the planning committee approve the application at this morning's meeting.

However, people living in nearby streets are urging councillors to turn it down.

Tony Moore, who lives nearby, objected to the council, saying: 'We are disappointed that Norwich City Council seem prepared to prioritise an increase in the loss of amenity payment over the need for appropriate development.

'We find it ironic that the council is being compensated for loss of amenity whilst we, who are having our amenity taken away, will gain only a notional benefit whilst having to pay the very real costs of: loss of privacy, loss of light, threat of structural damage to our own properties, increased pressure on parking space and diminution of road safety with associated lack of egress for emergency services.'

And Sophie Utting, who also lives close to the site, said: 'There is already not enough parking and I often struggle to find a space anywhere near my house.'

Planning agents Lanpro, on behalf of the applicant, said, in documents lodged with the council, that the application is 'sustainable development in a location which can support new housing'.

They said the compensation sum for the green would mean a 'greater number of people' would benefit.

The Heath House made headlines in 2015 when the bowling team, who used the green for free, were told they would have to leave - because they were not spending enough in the pub.